carbon seatpost creaking

[zzpza]

i have a carbon fibre frame and seat post. i assembled it dry, but it creaks. i've done the clamp up as tight as i dare. this is my first carbon frame. should i grease the post? i'm reticent to do it in case it just makes the post slip all the time...

 

[spandex]

It is the seat clamp. Take it all off, clean and them put back together clamping it tight.

 

[HJ]

The carbon seat post I bought recently had a label on it which DO NOT GREASE in big bold letters, so at a guess I would say it is not a good idea...

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Use Tacx carbon assembly paste or similar. It has a kind of adhesive action which sorts these problems. You can also use less torque on the clamp.

 

[Dave5N]

Yes. Don't use grease. It swells the carbon matrix and can cause it to delaminate.

 

[dellzeqq]

Yes. Don't use grease. It swells the carbon matrix and can cause it to delaminate.

I didn't know that - thanks. Do you know if lubricants will damage the frame - I'm thinking of sprays on the chain and so on...?

 

[NickM]

Use Tacx carbon assembly paste or similar. It has a kind of adhesive action which sorts these problems. You can also use less torque on the clamp.

Seconded. This stuff works really well - on slipping alloy seatpins, too. It's not actually an adhesive, but contains tiny balls which squash when you tighten the clamp and hold everything in place.

It works a lot better than the previous remedy of using maximum hold hairspray, anyway!

 

[spandex]

I didn't know that - thanks. Do you know if lubricants will damage the frame - I'm thinking of sprays on the chain and so on...?

I there is any prolonged contact it will work its way into the carbon but if there is any scratches the time it takes is a Lot less. So chain lube is fine as long as you keep it clean.

 

[dan_bo]

Last time I had any carbon creaking I ended up waving my handlebars about when my steerer snapped. Give it a thorough check over either way.